TYR

The council chamber reeked of incense and steel. Their voices droned on, circling the same points like dogs gnawing on a bone. I should be dozing off at this point with how much of a bore they were.

I should have been listening. I should have cared about which elder would ride in the entourage, which commander would lead, and how many soldiers would shadow them in secret. But I didn’t.

All I could think of was Zuri.

She sat beside me, squared her shoulders, and looked straight ahead. ...